Monday, November 05, 2012

i estimate that absolutely noone gives a damn about the NHL, so by folding that thread into this one, we won’t distract from what this thread is really about: boner pills, blood doping (is it low t?), and…jesus christ did mike vick just throw another ####### interception?

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Put up either Kaepernick or Wilson in the Super Bowl against a QB who's outplayed Brady, Luck and Peyton Manning in his last three playoff games

Joe Flacco is an average QB.

I wish I could remember the wonderful phrase SBB came up with when he was cherry picking periods from Jack Morris record to make him look better... I always want to use it as snark when I see things like this.

Put up either Kaepernick or Wilson in the Super Bowl against a QB who's outplayed Brady, Luck and Peyton Manning in his last three playoff games

Joe Flacco is an average QB.

Mercurial is more like it, but he's still outplayed those three Greek Gods in his last three playoff games, and he seems to rise to the challenge. Beyond that, this isn't the crippled Ravens team that we saw a month ago against the Broncos in Baltimore, as the Broncos discovered yesterday.

I wish I could remember the wonderful phrase SBB came up with when he was cherry picking periods from Jack Morris record to make him look better... I always want to use it as snark when I see things like this.

The problem with that comparison is that nobody's saying that Flacco is a HoF QB or even that he's a great one. All I wrote is that to see the Flacco we've seen in his last three playoff games, with a healthy team behind him, against a QB who's been great for all of half a year, would be a terrific matchup. This isn't about the HoF or even permanent labels of "greatness" for either of them.

And BTW if cherry picking is the issue, you might want to check out Kaepernick's game against the Seahawks just a few weeks ago. The ####### Giants manhandled the ####### Packers not that long ago, too, so let's wait a bit before anointing him as the newest Greek God. I'd like to see either him or Russell Wilson against the Ravens come Super Bowl time.

The problem with that comparison is that nobody's saying that Flacco is a HoF QB or even that he's a great one. All I wrote is that to see the Flacco we've seen in his last three playoff games, with a healthy team behind him, against a QB who's been great for all of half a year, would be a terrific matchup. This isn't about the HoF or even permanent labels of "greatness" for either of them.

It's still the same thing. The guy has 80 regular season games, and 9 playoff games on his resume. And you want to pretend that 3 of those games are more informative than his whole resume. Wake up and take a hit from the objective pipe.

Maybe so, but he isn't afraid to throw the ball deep, and Harbaugh lets him, and that helps everyone.

It's sad to say given the risk-averse state of some of the coaches/qb's, but I think half or two-thirds of the QBs in the league don't make that throw that Flacco made at the end of regulation that inexplicably busted the Broncos' defense.

It's still the same thing. The guy has 80 regular season games, and 9 playoff games on his resume. And you want to pretend that 3 of those games are more informative than his whole resume. Wake up and take a hit from the objective pipe.

WTF are you talking about? I'm not comparing Flacco to Brady or Manning or Brees or Joe Montana or Dan Marino or any other HOF level QB overall. I'm just pointing out that he's performed very well in his recent playoff matchups, and that the Ravens vs the Niners or Seahawks would make for a great Super Bowl. If I want to see a Hall of Merit All-Star game instead of a matchup like that, I'll let you know.

Now just chill for a few hours and let's all hope that the Falcons go home for the winter.

It's sad to say given the risk-averse state of some of the coaches/qb's, but I think half or two-thirds of the QBs in the league don't make that throw that Flacco made at the end of regulation that inexplicably busted the Broncos' defense.

I hate to say it, but I'm agreeing with you. (smile) Although I blame it more on the coaches than on the QBs.

Do mobile quaterbacks have an advantage in bad weather? Calling back the earlier discussion about making cuts in bad weather, I could see how a mobile quarterback could catch defensive backs and linebackers more off guard when they decide to run. I know I'm pointing to a sample space of one, but watching Kaepernick unleashed yesterday made me think of a tiny upgrade in value for mobile QBs in the playoffs. The risk of wear-and-tear injury is mitigated a bit. I doubt it's much of a change, but I liken it to having an elite reliever who can start pitching 2 innings a game come playoff time.

[1518] The weather wasn't that bad here in the Bay yesterday; a bit cold (for us) but sunny and nice, not too windy. The field surface wasn't terrific, but it was better than it looked. The Packers' defensive scheme (play man and ignore Kaepernick; make no adjustments at halftime) had much more to do with Kaep's success than the weather.

That was me, but then I kind of took it back. Do I still get credit? In fairness, they're almost certainly going to hold on, and I'm sure they'll take the win, no matter how impressive or unimpressive it might end up being.

Buck: Mike Smith! Matt Ryan! Tony Gonzalez! Collectively, individually, their first postseason win.
Aikman: And that win, this win, right here, legitimizes the Seattle Seahawks as the #1 seed, and makes them the team to beat.

Buck: Mike Smith! Matt Ryan! Tony Gonzalez! Collectively, individually, their first postseason win.
Aikman: And that win, this win, right here, legitimizes the Seattle Seahawks as the #1 seed, and makes them the team to beat.

I was wondering, because I can never tell which announcer is which unless it's Al Michaels or Harry Kalas, but I found a news story that said Buck and Aikman were calling the game. I even found a clip of Troy Aikman talking to make sure it was the same voice. I give up.

The receiver got out of bounds with 2 seconds left, so I'm not sure he could have gotten 5 more yards (for a 60-yard FG try) without time running out.

It's tough to gauge how far one can throw downfield with only 6 seconds left. Probably should have tried a 15-yard sideline route, I guess? Or maybe they thought the Hail Mary on play #2 was their best option?

As a side, I've never been a huge Tony Gonzalez fan, but the level he's still playing at is pretty amazing.

To be completely honest, I don't understand why the Falcons didn't run the clock down and make the kick the last play of the game. It's not like they had another timeout to try again if they made a mistake.

To be completely honest, I don't understand why the Falcons didn't run the clock down and make the kick the last play of the game. It's not like they had another timeout to try again if they made a mistake.

I was wondering the same thing. Makes me think Smith called the TO right away thinking they might run another play and then decided to just kick the FG.

That's an easy one - if Mike Smith calls another play and the Falcons wind up not getting a chance to kick the FG, then it's more on his "coaching error." This way, if the kicker misses, he's more of the goat.

A lot of NFL coaching decisions seem to be made that way these days [Heck, Mary Levy pulled this one off with the Scott Norwood kick in Super Bowl XXV vs Giants, when Norwood had never kicked a FG that far - 47 yards - on that surface. There were still 8 secs left. To this day, everyone seems to think that it's Norwood who was the goat. Well played, Marv!].

And yes, it looked to me like Bryant already heard the whistle, then booted it anyway, knowing it didn't matter.

For the record, before this game starts: as a Patriots fan, I'm more concerned that the Texans remember what made them 11-1 than I am that Joe Flacco will continue to play like a very good quarterback. If the latter happens, I mean, you just tip your cap, I guess.

To be completely honest, I don't understand why the Falcons didn't run the clock down and make the kick the last play of the game. It's not like they had another timeout to try again if they made a mistake.

I wondered that, but if the snap was bad then you could abort the play and kick it again. Run the clock down and that's not an option. Also:

I think it's fair to say that NFL head coaches collectively lose their senses inside of 2 minutes.